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The Constitution. Constitutional Convention. September 1786 = 5 states met in Annapolis James Madison of Virginia led reform effort to revise Articles of Confederation Re-scheduled for May 1787 in Philadelphia. Alexander Hamilton. Wanted stronger federal government.
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Constitutional Convention • September 1786 = 5 states met in Annapolis • James Madison of Virginia led reform effort to revise Articles of Confederation • Re-scheduled for May 1787 in Philadelphia
Alexander Hamilton • Wanted stronger federal government
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia • May – September 1787 • All states present except Rhode Island • Elite men = 2/3 were lawyers, 7 former state governors
Virginia Plan • Would have reduced state power • 3 branches of government • Would have given smaller states less power
New Jersey Plan • Led by smaller states • Would have created 3 presidents • Single congress • Congress had right to tax
Great Compromise • House of Representatives decided by population • Senate representation gave all states 2 representatives • 3/5 Compromise
3/5 Compromise • 3/5 of slave population would be counted for state population • “Slavery,” “Slaves,” “Slave Trade” never mentioned • International slave trade allowed to continue • Fugitive Slaves allowed to be captured across state lines • No changes to 3/5 clause allowed for 20 years
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists • 38 out of 55 representatives passed Constitution • 9 out of 13 states had to ratify it • Federalists = wanted stronger federal government • Anti-Federalists = Anti-constitution, wanted state power • Ratified constitution = Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Maryland, South Carolina, Massachusetts • Anti-Federalists = Rural or western states, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, Rhode Island
Bill of Rights • A compromise for 7 states before they would ratify • 1791 = 10 states approved 10 out of 12 amendments • #1 – 8 = About individual liberties • #9 – 10 = About boundaries between federal and state authority
Washington as President • February 1789 = Unanimously chosen as president by electoral college • John Adams elected as VP • Projected an honest and virtuous image
Federalists vs. Republicans • By 1790 = 2 informal parties • George Washington & early national government Federalist • Democrat-Republicans had roots in Anti-Federalists • Washington warned against party politics in Farewell Address